Prayer Room

Phew! Man, just had a long day at the internship. From 9-12 had class, 1-5pm had prayer room time, and from 6 to about 10 attended the awakening service. But at least it's time spent in doing what I love to do- either learning more about the Lord or spending time with Him!

It's only been a little more than a week in this internship, and maybe I'll change the following opinions in a month or two but a few things are sorta dawning on me as I'm spending time in the prayer room. I realize that just because you spend hours in the prayer room- it doesn't necessarily guarantee and intimate encounter with the Lord. Actually, the folks I'm staying with during my time here, a couple that's been around IHOP for some time remarked that for people new to the prayer room, when they get here and enter in- they experience extasy and glory, and they experience that for a few days and finally leave. But for IHOP veterans who have been around a while, I don't want to speak for everyone, but from what I've heard, it can be tough spending the hours in the prayer room, contrary to everyone's opinion from the outside that the IHOP prayer room is this amazing glorious place. (Which it still is!)

Anyways, for me, a few things have come into play during my time in the prayer room that can be distracting or make it difficult to engage in intimacy with the Lord. The first, is that being a musician myself, I sit in awe of the talented and anointed musicians at IHOP. These guys are top caliber. I could sit in the room ALL DAY listening to the teams go through their different 2 hour shifts just because they're all so good. Haha. But at the end of my time, I realize I really haven't had significant encounter with the Lord. I've felt His presence through the music, but as for heart-to-heart engagement, somewhat minimal at times?

Also, because there are so many people in the prayer room, it's difficult to get a feel of intimacy. (At least for me). David Crowder sings the song "Only You", where the bridge goes something like "It's just You and me here now, it's only You and me here now"....and it's tough to kind of feel that sort of intimacy when you're just in a throng of worshippers/intercessors, seated around you or milling around the room. Which is why, some people remarked that sometimes to connect and engage with God, it's easier to just go to room yourself and webcast the prayer room. Kinda illustrates the point that ultimately it's about God. You pray to the same God whether by yourself, or amongst many others. And anyone can reach a place of sacred intimacy- you don't have to trek out here to encounter God in awesome ways. God can and wants to encounter you in your own room too!!

Regardless of whether you're with a bunch of people, or by yourself, I'm reminded again of the reality of "pressing in" to God. Just because you're in an anointed atmosphere of the prayer room, doesn't necessarily mean everything's going to be gravy and you'll just be swept into this intimate exchange with the Lord. I realize that I still have to come before the Lord and rend my heart in reaching for Him. Only when I reach and seek after Him with the same level of heart committment as I would have in my own room, will I have engagement.

Anyways I think Jesus had a point when, in regards to prayer, He Himself would go to lonely places to be alone with God and recharge. And when preaching/teaching about prayer, He instructed His disciples when they pray to go into their rooms, close the door, and pray in secret. There is an unreplacable blessing I think, that comes when one is just alone with God.

The other night, after I got back from internship, I just spent a half hour and an hour or so just worshipping the Lord in my own room- and MAN! My heart felt so tenderized- it was like a cathartic release from being pent up because of the above reasons. And I just felt God was also reminding me that He just loves those moments when He has me all to Himself and He just wants to hear my voice sing to Him in the seclusion of being alone with Him.

With all that said- I still love the Global prayer room! Don't get me wrong- I still think everyone should come here and experience the level of presence of God here. It's so tangible and thick that you could eat it out of the air. Haha. That sound a little weird, but you get the point. And I've had some powerful encounters with the Lord there- same with everyone else there. And I'm sure for others, they can engage in intimacy in greater depths than I can in that type of atmosphere- but with all that, I think there's also times where God desires to meet us in secret, just alone with Him- and He rewards that as well by offering His fullness therein too. =)

Hope this encourages some of you who feel you're "missing out" by not being here in person. You can have an awesome encounter with the Lord in your own room. I really believe that! Don't discount or treat as negligible the holy intimacy you get to have with God in the quiet of your room, when it's just you and Him. =) Those moments of tenderness are priceless, where ever you experience them.

Anyways, man these blog entries are turning out really long, haha. If you've read my rants, I appreciate your patience! Hope you got something out of it- thanks for checking in, and check back again!

bless you!